Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Carole Mortimer begins her Dangerous Dukes series with this novella and features Marcus Wilding, said to be "the most accomplished lover in England" (mentioned 5 times in the novella) who has been approached by Lady Julianna Armitage, for lessons in lovemaking. It is an unusual request coming from a lady, and made even more unusual because said lady is the younger sister of Marcus's long-time friend.

And then there's the fact that Marcus has loved Lady Julianna for more four years, ever since her come-out.

Now a widow, Lady Julianna is free to make her own choices in life -- and she wants to experience passion. Of all the gentlemen of her acquaintance, she approaches Marcus for two reasons: first,as her brother's friend, she could rely on him for discretion, and, second, she's always loved Marcus. I loved how Julianna is taking control of her own life and destiny, and I love her boldness and audacity to approach a man such as Marcus with her curious request. It's also amazing how she doesn't let Marcus intimidate her. ^_^

"Forgive me, Lady Armitage, but for a brief moment I was sure I heard you request that I tutor you in the art of making love to and with a man before you take a lover!"

Julianna remained unmoved by the hard and derisive smile that accompanied Marcus Wilding's drawled dismissal of such a notion ever being possible. "There is nothing wrong with your hearing, Your Grace. Except perhaps for me to add that I made a statement of intent, rather than a request," she added with the same determination she knew to be evident in the sharp tilt of her chin."
- Opening lines of the novella

* * *

She had been a young lady of only eighteen summers on her wedding day four years ago, her heart full of optimism for what the future might hold. But three years of that cold marriage to the adulterous Lord John Armitage and almost a year of widowhood following his death, had resulted in Julianna vowing not to remarry when her year of widowhood came to an end in just two weeks' time. No, better by far to take a lover, she had decided. One of her own choosing and on her own terms.
- loc 76

Carole Mortimer's 51-page novella is about seduction, but it's made more meaningful because of the feelings that our hero and heroine have kept hidden from each other for a long time. There's a lot of dramatic irony in their circumstance: they're trying to approach their situation in a business-like manner, but there's just so much emotion that's threatening to burst forth to the surface. Their current situation hinged on a Big Mis that happened all those years ago, when Julianna turned 18. It resulted in her marrying someone else. I love how their lessons progress and how Carole Mortimer breaks down the art of making love into the various senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch -- showing, how each aspect of our being participates in this glorious culmination and expression of love. Their encounters are titillating and steamy, but it also served as a way for Marcus and Julianna to get reacquainted: to discover the persons they have become after four years apart and for Julianna to find the woman she would have been had she not married John Armitage.

Mortimer also lays down the groundwork for the series by introducing a fascinating group of men, who are either dukes, or are heirs to the dukedom. (She introduces two of them at the end of the novella: Darian Hunter and Zachary Black, and the short snippets of their stories are very promising. ^_^)

Marcus Wilding: Duke of Pleasure is Book 0.5 of Carole Mortimer's Dangerous Dukes series. The first full-length novel, Zachary Black: Duke of Debauchery was released September 2014. To find out more about Carole Mortimer and her books, click below:

Sunday, September 28, 2014

It's another weekend! I hope all of you are having an enjoyable and restful break from work, school and such. I've been busy with school activities (Family Day at my children's school) and birthday parties. ^_^

I'm hoping to get some reviews out this week. In the meantime, enjoy this week's featured Free and Discounted Historical Romance Novels:

What is Throwback Thursday?
Traditionally, Throwback Thursday celebrates nostalgia, asking participants to post a personal photo or an image from their past -- usually from 5 to 10 years ago. There are a lot of book blogs that also do a book-related Throwback Thursday.

The Historical Romance Edition:
Since Mary of Buried Under Romance and I are unapologetic lovers of historical romances, we've decided to focus on our beloved genre.

Here are our rules:
1. It must be posted on a Thursday.
2. It must be a historical romance novel published before October 3, 2008.

To escape her cruel stepfather, seamstress Alexandra Cogsworth envisioned sailing far from England ... though not as a captive aboard a pirate's ship.

Pirate Captain Nathaniel Kent's strategy for exacting revenge on his cold-hearted father involved taking a valuable hostage ... not a seamstress he mistakenly thinks is his half sister.

Yet fate has designs of its own, landing them both on board the Royal Vengeance. At sea, Nathaniel intercepts and plunders his father's ships, all the while tormented by his illicit hunger for the tempting prisoner he thinks is his blood relation. And although Alexandra wants no part in this terrifying voyage, to reveal her true identity to the handsome, blue-eyed Nathaniel would invite danger. Not only would she become worthless cargo, but the revelation would surely unleash what she and Nathaniel have been fiercely battling -- a rising undercurrent of impossible desire that could sweep them away for good.

I'm currently reading A Matter of Grave Concern by Brenda Novak, which will be released this October, and I'm enjoying the story so far. For this week's TBT:HR, I decided to take a look at Brenda Novak's impressive list of work and I'm so pleased to discover that her debut novel, published in 1999, was a Regency romance. Since then, she has published both contemporary and historical stories in various sub-genres.

This box set includes: Ava Stone's A Scandalous Past, Rose Gordon's His Jilted Bride, Jerrica Knight-Catania's More than a Governess, Catherine Gayle's Twice a Rake, Deb Marlowe's The Love List, Julie Johnstone's Bargaining with a Rake, Claudia Dain's Much Ado About Dutton, Jane Charles's A Reluctant Rake, and Christi Caldwell's My Lady of Deception. -- from the book description on Amazon

Daring Deception, by Brenda Hiatt When her brother promises her in marriage to pay a gaming debt, Miss Chesterton dons a disguise to prove Lord Seabrooke a fortune hunter. But even as she gathers evidence, she finds herself losing her heart to the handsome Earl.

Lucy in Disguise, by Lynn Kerstan A charming aristocrat in trouble is rescued by a young woman disguised as a Lancashire Witch. Love comes swiftly, but she’ll only agree to wed if they protect her friend, a fearful heiress, from a greedy and dangerous family.

The Earl’s Revenge, by Allison Lane A battle of wits unmasks the secret lives of the Earl of Bridgeport and his former fiancée Elaine Thompson. Only love might prevent ruination.

The Lady from Spain, by Gail Eastwood A young woman posing as a Spanish widow returns to England after Napoleon’s war, set on a dangerous quest. Can the handsome lord who must unmask her also turn her heart toward love?

Gwen’s Ghost, by Alicia Rasley and Lynn Kerstan An unredeemed rake must mask his true self so that he can undo the damage he caused with his life -- and his death.

The Redwyck Charm, by Elena Greene Heiress Juliana Hutton masquerades as an opera dancer to escape an arranged marriage to the Earl of Amberley, but fate has different plans ...